Published: October 04, 2008 09:49 pm         

Business briefs

Participation needed for Arts Alliance event

The Cass County Arts Alliance is looking for employers interested in participating in the sixth annual Comfortable with the Arts Day on Oct. 21. The event is a fundraiser for the arts alliance.

Employees of participating businesses are offered an incentive to donate $2 to the arts alliance. Incentives may include a dress down day or extra break time. Employees who donate will also be included in a raffle.

Nelson’s Port-a-pit Chicken will be also sold that day at Schwering Century 21 Realty from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are $5.

For more information, call Kathy Adair at (574) 735-ARTS.



Miller’s Merry Manor does well in survey

Miller’s Merry Manor in Logansport was one of 12 nursing homes in the state of Indiana that was found to be deficiency free during an annual survey in the second quarter of 2008.

The surveys were conducted from April through June. A total of 127 long-term care facilities received the survey during this period.

For each survey, a team of three to four professional surveyors performed detailed inspections that lasted from four days to two weeks. The team members are registered nurses or social workers.

Miller’s Merry Manor is located at located at 200 26th St.



Employees of the month honored at MCF

BUNKER HILL — The Miami Correctional Facility has recognized three employees for service in the month for September.

Those honored included officer Kevin Ogle, Chaplain William Babb and maintenance supervisor Willis Gene Cooper.

Ogle, of Rochester, was named custody officer of the month. He is a correctional officer and has been employed at the Miami County facility since April 2005.

Babb, of Kokomo, was named employee of the month. He has been a state employee since 1984 and transferred to the facility in July 2002 from the Indiana State Prison.

Cooper, of Peru, was named supervisor of the month. He has worked for the state since May 1995. He started out at the Logansport State Hospital and transferred to the facility in January 2000.



Workman honored as independent advisor

David J. Workman, of Logansport LPL Financial Corporation, was named among the top 100 independent advisors in America by “Registered Representative” magazine.

Workman currently serves clients and corporations in 26 states. He has worked in Logansport since June 1, 1988, and has had a live radio show on WSAL for the last 16 years. He and his wife, Beth, have three children, John, Daniel and Katie.



Cement Corporation increases prices

Essroc Cement Corporation announced a price increase of $15 per ton on all cementitious products effective Jan. 1, 2009. The increase is due to an increase in production costs.

The price increase applies to Essroc’s entire cement line, including both bulk and packaged products.



Producer participates in industry event

Logansport pork producer Nathan Hedden recently participate in the Pork Checkoff’s Pork Leadership Academy, which included a group of 19 pork producers from across America.

The group traveled to Washington D.C. to discover the importance of the entire pork industry working together. Members of the academy learned how to monitor what is being said on the Internet and how they can take part in conversations online.

Participants also received an overview of the Checkoff’s science and technology programs, and were informed of each producer-lead committee’s mission and the 2007 research priorities.

For information on Checkoff-funded programs, call (800) 456-PORK or visit www.pork.org



Local bank announces record stock dividend

CONVERSE — First Farmers Financial Corporation announced a record stock dividend of .28 per share for the third quarter of 2008.

The dividend represents a 7.7 percent increase from the same period of time in 2007. The company is expected to declare its 18th consecutive year of increasing dividends.



Purdue camp offered for entrepreneurs

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue University’s third annual Company Fundraising Boot Camp will be held on Oct. 13 and 14 in Discovery Park.

The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and is free and open to anyone interested in learing what is needed to launch a company. Seating is limited and preference will be given to Purdue faculty and staff.

Michael Birck, chairman and founder of telecommunication giant Tellabs Inc. and a Purdue trustee, is the keynote speaker at noon on Oct. 13 in the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, Room 121. Birck’s talk is titled, “Founding and Growing a Company.”

Key topics include company formation, tips for selecting a chief executive officer, selling your idea, advice on starting a company, sources of capital, company valuation and investment presentation skills.

To register visit www.purdue.edu/dp/bdm/bootcamp/



Seminars offered for business owners

The Hoosier Heartland Small Business Development Center is currently offering a workshop “Launching Your Business,” in the following locations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.:

• Oct. 9 in Miami Chamber of Commerce, 13 E. Main St., Peru.

• Oct. 15 in Inventrek Technology Park, 700 E. Firmin St., Kokomo.

• Oct. 21 in Logansport-Cass County Economic Development Foundation office, 310 S. Pearl St.

The workshop costs $35 per business and covers all materials. Questions about licensing, permits, record keeping, marketing and planning will be answered.

To register log on to www.conf.purdue.edu/sbdc or call toll free at (800) 359-2968 at least 24 hours before the scheduled workshop.



Patriot Homes files for Chapter 11 protection

MIDDLEBURY (AP) — Patriot Homes Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, blaming the slumping housing market and tight credit.

The company, based in Middlebury, filed for protection from creditors Sunday.

Patriot says it plans to continue operations as usual at its plants in Indiana, Texas and Alabama. The company, which has about 550 employees, said it doesn’t anticipate any additional cuts. Patriot has closed seven plants, including four in northern Indiana.

Patriot projects it will build about 1,850 homes this year, less than half its capacity.